Our report on 11 June concerning the redevelopment of King Street in Hammersmith included a reference to the fact that Mike Slade, who is Chief Executive of Helical Bar plc, one of the successful bidders to conduct the development, had donated £20,000 to Boris Johnson’s London Mayoral campaign in 2008.
We would like to make it clear that it was not our intention to suggest that in making that donation Mr Slade had attempted to buy the influence of Hammersmith and Fulham Council in order to secure the appointment of his company to run this project. Nor was it our intention to suggest that King Street Developers did not win the contract “fair and square” after a vigorous selection process which commenced in 2007, or that it won the contract for any reason other than those set out in the council’s report of February 2008.
We are happy to make that clear and to apologise if any contrary impression was given by our report.
